Pours a pretty thin dark brown. Thin head quickly roils up to about a half inch, and quickly receeds. No cool lacing or anything like that. Smells like burnt bourbon, like a huge bourbon aged IS. It doesn't taste it at all, though. Faint oaking comes through, but it isn't overly roasty, and just a bit sweet. A bit of vanilla, maybe some coffee. A little light on flavor, and very light overall. That is the biggest flaw. It lacks gravitas, and it needs a lot more carbonation. It feels dead, like the lunar surface. Needs more carbonation to liven things up, right now it tastes almost flat. Very drinkable, though. This beer is a bit underwhelming, but it was worth the try.

Dark, deep amber reflections coming off of it with little head and lace and the smell was very complex. I want to say a hint of hamburger, like when I worked at McDonalds, we cooked those patties, and there was no other scent like that. A note was in this beer. Also vanilla and yes, a little bourbon. Tops for appetizing. Mouth was chewy as to be expected. with a decent swallow and rounded toasty aftertastes. Not bad. Taste was a bit of let down, thinking this would be bigger, but is still damn good. Vanilla makes the most of the burnt malt flavors with a back end wine and raisin note with subdued hops character but could not really taste the bourbon barrel other than the remanants of oak. Perhaps I'm just comparing it too closely with a beer I had in IN at Rich-o's.

M - medium-full body with moderately high carbonation, some roast astringency on finish

O - Well, this isn't a bad American stout, but there's not really much barrel flavor here despite the name. There is some oak-like vanilla, but it's pretty subtle. The brewing is fair enough, but just doesn't deliver the barrel expectations very well.

Pours a dark black with a one finger head. Disappates quickly into a thin layer of bubbles and a decent amount of lacing.

Smells of dark roasted malts, vanilla, and cocoa

Flavor is great, and well balanced. Very roasty, and has a surprizingly real oak aged flavor, despite not actually being aged in oak barrels. The vanilla and oakiness is strong, but well balanced and not artificial tasting.

Mouthfeel is substantial, silky, and fairly thick. Drinkability is good.

Poured out a near black with a thin tan head that dissipated into nothing. The nose offered strong malt notes accompanied by light smoke, bbq, hickory, and mollasses. The taste had some nice malt, smoke, mollasses, and maple syrup flavors, but everything fell a bit short. Has a very light body and clean finish, more reminiscent of a porter than a stout and not satisfying at all. Granted, this is a beer you can drink a lot of without getting sick, something most aoked beers can't claim, but at the end of the day it starts off with promise and then falls flat.

Pouring slightly chilled into a pint glass, it pours a dark brown with red tints throughout allowing little light (if at all any) to poke through. It also leaves a nice 1cm head w/ some nice clingy edge lacing.

The smell is of vanilla and roasted malts. Toffee or caramel comes through as well, along with a notion of almonds. No hops at all in the aroma.

Taste is great! Toffee, almonds really come through, along with a slight smokiness on the finish. The finish is also a little dry leaving the idea of tasting oak barrels. However, most of the sip is nice and sweet.

Carbonation on the tip of your tongue at first with this one. However, this is a nice chewy and creamy stout w/ a slightly dry finish and a nice malty aftertaste.

Drinkable? I say "oh hell yes!" This was well crafted and would make for a great session beer!

Smell: The smell is a very complex malty mix of vanilla, bourbon and wood with a strong coffee feel to it.

Taste and Mouthfeel: The taste is ridulously complex. Coffee, wood, bittersweet chocolate, vanilla and a huge bourbon taste create a deep, lucious flavor. The mouthfeel is smooth and rich.

Drinkability and Overall: This is a very nice stout. Just about as complex as a beer can get at 5.2% alcohol. The drinkability isn't too high simply complex it's such a complex taste. One or two and your taste buds would be wasted. Thanks (again) to NeroFiddled for this wonderful brew.

Well I tried this beer again and I must say it has changed a bit since the first time I had it. I am not sure if it is a new batch or just some left-overs, but it is definately better than my first review stated. The aroma has really come along and there is a woody vanilla to the roasty stout. The taste was much much more even and even a little milk stout-ish, a nice roasty flavor that gives way to a oaky (read slight tannin) and vanilla flavor with a bit of lactic sweetness. The body is well rounded but a little gelatin like, slick almost in the finish of the beer. Overall a good breakfest for what is going to be a trying day.